Cathode ray picture tube test tool



Jan. 2, 1962 E. w. HERRINGTON CATHODE RAY PICTURE TUBE TEST TOOL FiledMarch 20, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent I 1 3,015,692 CATHODE RAY PICTURE TUBE TEST TOOLErvin W. Herrington, 127 Gleason Ave., Vallejo, Calif.

Filed Mar. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 800,750 5 Claims. (Cl. 178-7.8)

This invention relates to improvements in the method and means fortesting picture tubes and circuits, particularly as applied totelevision circuits and apparatus, and is customarily carried out bylaying the picture test tube on some surface such as a table or bench,applying the core and connecting to the circuit of the television set.With this crude method the test picture tube.

is not properly protected or supported, the core may not be properlylocated on the neck of the tube or change position, and may be withinundesirable range of magnetizable material such as nails, screws orsteel filings, therefore such conditions of testing are undesirable andmay readily be inaccurate.

It is to overcome the undesirable features and possible inaccuracy thatthe present invention was developed, and which provides a resilientsupport for the test picture tube to prevent possible marring or damage,as also means for maintaining'the core of the television set in properposition, while also maintaining these elements clear of allmagnetizable materials, whileexpediting the test through greaterconvenience and exact positioning.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide a tool for suitably supporting a cathode ray picturetest tube for convenient and accurate testing of television circuits andapparatus and to protect the tube from damage or marring.

Second, to provide a tool as outlined in which the cathode raypicturetest tube is resiliently supported about the screen frame withinterposed highly resilient cushioning material of substantial thicknessto prevent shock with consequent detrimental effect on the tube.

Third, to provide a tool as outlined with adjustable combined supportfor the neck of the tube and retain-. ing means for the core formaintenance in proper position on the neck of the tube.

Fourth, to provide a tool as outlined which is simple in construction,economical to manufacture and convenient to use, and entirely free ofmagnetizable material.

In describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which: a

FIG. 1 is a rear end elevation of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation with the cathode ray picture test tube andthe core shown in position and indicated in broken lines.

1 3,015,692 Patented Jan. 2, 1902 ice is slidable on this slide 'bar andhas an upwardly pro jecting pair of spaced ears and which sleeve' isclamped in adjusted position on the slide 'bar by the clamp screw 20 andthumb nut 21 which are also formed of nonmagnetizable material.

The resilient supporting means for the-neek 22 of the cathode raypicture test tube 23 consists of a pair of upwardly projecting fingers24 and '25 having a common base 26 by which it is fiXed'to a dependingleg 27 as indicated at 28, and which is adjustably clampedbetween thepair of spaced ears of the sleeve, the fingers being oppositelyarcuately formed intermediatetheir height to resiliently grip about theneck of the tube. The portions 29 of the resilient supporting means forthe neck extending downwardly from the arcuately formed portions to thecross member 26, and the parallel portions 30 and 31 projecting upwardlyfrom the arcuate portions are suflicient to span the bore 32 in the core33 as is clearly indicated in FIGS. 1 and Z, thereby providing forretention and alignment of the core 33 in proper position whilecoincidently supporting the neck of the picture tube.

Fixedly mounted on the front member 15 is a band 34 which is formed of aresilient non-magnetizable ma-' terial, the terminal ends 35 and 36 ofwhich are bent upward to form ears which are provided with passages forthe clamp screw 37, which through the medium of the thumb nut 38 can beadjusted to suitably resiliently secure the tube by its screen framewith interposed highly resilient cushioning material of considerablethickness and which may consist of sponge rubber or latex foam of othersuitable highly resilient material.

It'will be noted that the fingers 24 and 25 are not provided with anyclamping means other than the inherent resiliency of the material, theirmore important function being retention of the core 33 in properposition on the neck of the tube.

side with part of the screen frame clamp broken away;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing a section through the cushionedscreen frame clamp member.

The invention is constructed .throughout of nonmagnetizable material,such as aluminum, magnesium, or a suitable thermoplastic, and consistsof a frame 10 which is suitably supported in an elevated position suchas by the front legs 11 and'rear legs 12 for suitable spacing from anymagnetizable material that may be in or on the supporting surface forthe tool, the respective front and rear members 15 and 16 beingillustrated as consisting each of a strip of nonmagnetizable material,the

cross members 13 ofwhich form the support surfaces,

the ends being turned down as shown to form the legs; but not so limitedas the entire frame can be formed to any suitable shape by casting ormolding.

A slide bar 14 is fixed at its opposite ends. to the central portions ofthe respective front and rear cross members 13 as indicated at 17 and18, and a sleeve 19 Since the plug end 41 of .the tube is no larger indi- I ameter than the neck, the tube can be inserted through the frontwith the core 33 in place on the neck.

I claim:

1. Support and positioning means for the neck and core of a cathode raypicture tube, comprising a slide bar, a sleeve slidable on the slide barand having an upwardly projecting pair of ears, a pair of spring fingersoppositely arcuately formed and having upper and lower parallelextensions to span the bore in the core and with the intermediateportion of the fingers'formed to lightly grip about the neck of thepicture tube, and said spring fingers being adjustably clamped betweensaid. ears.

2. In a cathode ray picture test tube tool having a front memberand arear member, a slide member conmeeting said front and rear members, anda flexible band centrally mounted on said front member'and adjustable toresiliently-hold the front end of a picture test tube;

' of the picture tube, comprising a slider adjustable'on said slidemember, and opposed arcuate spring fingers forming an extension upwardlyfrom saidslider for supporting the neck of the tube with the springfingers havingextensions to span the passage in a core mounted on theneck to retain the core in predetermined adjusted position. I

3. In a cathode ray picture test tube tool having a slide bar andsupport means for each end thereof, for

. support in an elevated position, and having a resilient. clamp memberintermediately fixed to one end of said slidebar and includingadjustable means for resiliently I securing the front end of a picturetube therein; adjustable neck supporting and core positioning andretain! ing means comprising a sleeve slidable on said slide bar andhaving an upward extension terminating in opposed arcuate spring fingersto lightly grip and support the neck of the picture tube, with thesupport means for the slide bar having height sufficicnt for supportingthe picture tube in non-responsive relation to any magnetizablematerials in or on a supporting surface.

4. A structurev as defined in claim 3, said support means for each endof the slide bar comprising each a strip of non-magnetizable materialhaving each a central portion to which the slide bar is fixed, with theremaining .end portionsbent down to form legs.

5. A structure as defined in claim 3, said sleeve including a portionslidable on said slide bar and terminating above the slide bar in spacedears, and clamping means cooperative between said ears for securing 15said sleeve in adjusted position, and a second portion comprising adepending portion having an eye at the lower end for clamping betweensaid ears, in angularly adjusted position and with said fingersprojecting upwardly from the depending portion and having extensionsabove and below the resilient arcuate spring fingers to span the bore ina core and retain the core in adjusted position on the neck of thepicture tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,780,803 Andrews Feb. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 201,698 Australia May 3,1956

